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Rome

According to legend, the city of Rome was founded by twins, Romulus and Remus. Their father was Mars, the god of war, and their mother was a Latin princess. The twins were abandoned on the banks of the Tiber River.  A female wolf found the twins and fed them her own milk. Finally some shepherds rescued the twins and raised them as their own children. After growing up, the boys decided to build a city in the place where they had been born. Each brother decided to rule one part of the city. They each chose a hill from which to rule the new city.  One day Romulus and Remus got into a terrible fight. Remus was angry because his brother got a larger part of the city to rule. Romulus killed Remus in this quarrel. This left Romulus's hilltop, called Palatine, the center of the new city. The city was named Rome after Romulus.

The city of Rome is a 90 minute drive from our second port of Civitavecchia.  Free shuttle buses from the ship to the entrance of the port are available (be sure to note which dock number you are at for the return shuttle to the ship).  Free shuttle buses from the entrance of the port to the train station are also available.  Or you could take in the local sights during your 10 minute/4 block walk to the train station. 

The train ride into Rome is about 75 minutes if you get off at Termini (near the Coliseum) or 45 minutes if you get off at S. Pietro (near St. Peter's and Vatican City).

For 9 Euros you can purchase a BIRG ticket (Biglietto Integrato Regionale Giornaliero).  A BIRG ticket is a regional day pass -- round trip transportation to Rome on a regional train ('R' designated trains) on the Trenitalia train system, and unlimited bus and metro in Rome.

At Metro Stations there are ticket barriers where you have to insert your ticket to enter the Metro System -- this is monitoring to see if your ticket is valid for you to enter the system.  (This is different than validating your ticket.) Turnstyles are for exiting the Metro. 

Be sure to write your name and birthdate on the back of your ticket.  Remember to validate your ticket prior to getting on the train in Civitavecchia. You only need to validate your ticket once, at the start of your travels. It is good until midnight.   Here is a ticket validation box:

Ticket Inspectors will charge a hefty fine for those caught with a unvalidated ticket (51 Euros which tourists will have to pay on the spot and they don't mind following you to the closest ATM.). Inspectors check trains, metro, and buses.  (Not a good way to remember your day in Rome.) 

Some Helpful Italian Words

due = two

Biglietto = ticket 

Binario = Track or platform (very important, abbreviated 'bin')

Partenze = departure

Orario = scheduled time of departure

Ora.Eff = projected time of departure (the train is running late if you see this)

Prossimo Fermata = next stop

Uscita = exit

Latto Destro = right

Latto Siniotro = left

Libero? = free? (as in 'is this seat free?')

Occupato? = taken? (as in 'is this seat occupied?')

Per Favore = please
Grazie = thank you
Buongiorno - Good day
Buonasera - Good evening/afternoon - it is customary to use one of these greetings when entering small shops
Arrivederci - Goodbye
Scusi - Excuse me
Parla inglese? - Do you speak English?
Non parlo italiano - I don't speak Italian

and the ever important:
Dov'è il bagno? - Where's the bathroom